Former Punjab CM flays Modi

Vadodara, Dec 9 (UNI) Former Punjab chief minister and PPCC president Rajender Kaur today lambasted Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his ''autocratic'' style of functioning, saying that the latter's days were numbered.

Talking to newsmen here, Ms Kaur said people of Gujarat were totally disenchanted with the Modi government, which was spreading communal hatred for mere electoral gains.

The Congress leader, who was on a day's private visit to the city, said Mr Modi now has a lone supporter in L K Advani, as all senior leaders of the BJP were leaving the party one by one.

Predicting victory for the Congress in the coming Assembly elections in Gujarat, she alleged that the image of Gujarat, considered to be a peace-loving state, had been tarnished due to Mr Modi's ''dictatorship.'' Asked about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi in which several senior Congress leaders were allegedly involved, Ms Kaur said all those found guilty of the crime would certainly be taken to task.

Replying to a question, she said the Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab, being led by Dal supremo Prakash Singh Badal, had also failed on all fronts during the last five months.

Though the people of Punjab want development and peace, there were some elements who had been trying to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the state, she added.